BMW Plans Electric 5-Series For The Chinese Market

BMW 5-Series is set to receive an electric version by the end of the year. The electric model will be sold only on the Chinese market, being developed in a partnership with Brilliance Auto.

BMW will develop an electric version for their 5-Series model, a car build exclusively for the Chinese market. The model will be developed in a partnership with Brilliance Auto Holdings, the company that has a joint-venture agreement with BMW, for penetrating the Chinese market. For now there is no official informations and specs of the electric vehicle, but the concept previewing the electric BMW 5-Series will be displayed at this year’s Beijing Auto Show edition.

BMW Group already sold 169,000 units in China in 2010, with an 87% raise compared to 2009. In 2011, the Germans want to launch the new X3, 6 Series – in both body versions – and Mini Countryman, cars that should lead to an increase in sales. BMW doesn’t expect to build the new model in large volumes, but only to offer the Chinese customers a new propulsion version.

BMW and Brilliance Automotive Co have a join-venture deal in China, allowing them to build Chinese version of BMW 3-Series and BMW 5-Series. Both models are built in Shenyang. The Chinese can also buy a special version 5-Series, which has a longer wheelbase. The BMW 5-Series L (Long) is built exclusively for the Chinese market, and it seems that the electric 5-Series will have the same destiny.